Russian grandmother DiCaprio: who is she. Leo and his Russian grandmother You worked well in this team

Many world famous Hollywood actors, directors and producers were born into families of immigrants from the Russian Empire or the USSR.The Kulturologiya edition has compiled a list of those who had Odessa grandmothers in their family.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leo never hid the fact that his grandmother, Helen Indenbirken, nee was known as Elena Stepanovna Smirnova. Most sources call her homeland Odessa, but some indicate the Kherson region of Ukraine. After the revolution, his grandmother and her family emigrated to Germany, where she remained during the Second World War.

The mother of the future Hollywood star was born in a bomb shelter during an air raid. Leo inherited his surname from his father with Italian-German roots.

After the end of the war, Elena Stepanovna and her husband moved to the United States. When she had a grandson in 1974, she became the closest person to him and was constantly with him. Leonardo DiCaprio always spoke of his grandmother with great love and respect and often appeared in front of the cameras with her. The actor admired her willpower and was sure that her character was tempered by the trials she experienced in her youth: “For me, grandmother is the embodiment of inner strength and integrity. She went through poverty, war and emigration. Grandmother, grandfather and the rest of their relatives are people with a difficult fate that did not break them. "

In an interview, DiCaprio has repeatedly stated that it was her upbringing that largely shaped him as a person. He greatly grieved when, in 2008, his beloved grandmother passed away at the age of 93.

Sydney Pollack

Actor, director and producer Sidney Pollack, who won an Oscar for Out of Africa and a nomination for the comedy Tootsie, was also born into an immigrant family - his grandparents and parents were Odessa Jews. But Sydney Pollack himself was born in Indiana and considered himself one hundred percent American.

“For me, the long-standing emigration of parents from Odessa is exclusively from the field of family traditions,” he said.

Whoopi Goldberg

It is difficult to suspect Odessa roots from Whoopi Goldberg, but this is really so. Her maternal great-grandmother was also from Odessa, where she lived half of her life. After emigrating to the United States, she settled in New York. The actress always emphasized that she owes her character to her ancestors: “All women in my family were strong personalities. They never called themselves feminists, did not utter loud words, but everything that happened within the family happened on their initiative. From them I have inherited the habit of treating all troubles with humor. "

Steven Spielberg

The director of the cult films Schindler's List, Indiana Jones and Back to the Future does not like to talk about his ancestors and their homeland - due to the dramatic circumstances that forced them to emigrate. The director's maternal grandmother is from Odessa. She and her family left the country during the Holocaust. Although Spielberg does not like to remember these tragic events, he does not deny his roots and admits that borscht was the favorite dish in their family for many years.

Sylvester Stallone

The actor's father is Sicilian, but his mother was of Franco-Jewish origin with Odessa roots. The family of his grandmother Rosa owned a jewelry store in Odessa. After the revolution, they emigrated first to France and then to the United States. In the mid-1980s, Stallone's mother, with the help of Mikhail Gorbachev, tracked down her Odessa relatives and visited her homeland.

The actor admitted: "I suddenly felt that I have much more maternal than Italian paternal genes."

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Today all of them are world famous actors, directors and producers, but these stars would never have been lit if not for their ancestors, who came from Odessa.

Most Hollywood actors are proud of their roots, but some choose not to mention their relatives ...

Leonardo DiCaprio with his grandmother

Leonardo DiCaprio with his grandparents

Leonardo DiCaprio with his mother and grandmother
Leonardo DiCaprio never hid the fact that his grandmother, Helen Indenbirken, was known as Elena Stepanovna Smirnova in her girlhood. Most sources call her homeland Odessa, but some indicate the Kherson region of Ukraine. After the revolution, his grandmother and her family emigrated to Germany, where she remained during the Second World War. The mother of the future Hollywood star was born in a bomb shelter during an air raid. Leo inherited his surname from his father with Italian-German roots.

Hollywood star with grandmother

Actor with his Odessa grandmother
After the end of the war, Elena Stepanovna and her husband moved to the United States. When in 1974 she had a grandson, she became the closest person to him and was constantly with him. Leonardo DiCaprio always spoke of his grandmother with great love and respect and often appeared in front of the cameras with her. The actor admired her willpower and was sure that her character was tempered by the trials she experienced in her youth: “For me, grandmother is the embodiment of inner strength and integrity. She went through poverty, war and emigration. Grandmother, grandfather and the rest of their relatives are people with a difficult fate that did not break them. " In an interview, DiCaprio has repeatedly stated that it was her upbringing that largely shaped him as a person. He greatly grieved when, in 2008, his beloved grandmother passed away at the age of 93.

Actor, director and producer Sidney Pollack, who won an Oscar for Out of Africa and a nomination for the comedy Tootsie, was also born into an émigré family - both his grandparents and his parents were Odessa Jews. But Sydney Pollack himself was born in Indiana and considered himself one hundred percent American. “For me, the long-standing emigration of parents from Odessa is exclusively from the field of family traditions,” he said.

Actor, director, producer Sidney Pollack

Hollywood star Whoopi Goldberg
It is difficult to suspect Odessa roots from Whoopi Goldberg, but this is really so. Her maternal great-grandmother was also from Odessa, where she lived half of her life. After emigrating to the United States, she settled in New York. The actress always emphasized that she owes her character to her ancestors: “All women in my family were strong personalities. They never called themselves feminists, did not utter loud words, but everything that happened within the family happened on their initiative. From them I have inherited the habit of treating all troubles with humor. "

Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg
Hollywood star Steven Spielberg, director of Schindler's List, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, does not like to talk about his ancestors and their homeland - due to the dramatic circumstances that forced them to emigrate. The director's maternal grandmother is from Odessa. She and her family left the country during the Holocaust. Although Spielberg does not like to remember these tragic events, he does not deny his roots and admits that borscht was the favorite dish in their family for many years.

Sylvester Stallone
The actor Sylvester Stallone is a Sicilian by his father, but his mother was of Franco-Jewish origin with Odessa roots. The family of his grandmother Rosa owned a jewelry store in Odessa. After the revolution, they emigrated first to France and then to the United States. In the mid-1980s. Stallone's mother, with the help of Mikhail Gorbachev, found her Odessa relatives and visited her homeland. The actor admitted: "I suddenly felt that I have much more maternal than Italian paternal genes."

Elena Stepanovna Smirnova - this is how the grandmother of Leonardo DiCaprio would have been called if she had stayed at home in Russia. However, the Smirnov family left their homeland during the revolution and fled to Germany. They decided to call their daughter in the German way, so she turned into Helen.

When she grew up, she married a German. Now she has a new surname - Indenbirken, with which it was much calmer to live in Germany at that time than with the previous one. Although even Helen's parents miraculously managed to avoid persecution and arrest.

In 1943, the Indenbirken couple had a daughter - the future mother of Leonardo DiCaprio. This joyful event took place in a shelter where family members were hiding from the bombing.

The girl was given the name Imerlin. Of course, the birth of a daughter was one of the happiest pages in Elena's life. Nevertheless, until the end of her days, she recalled life in Nazi Germany as difficult and even terrible times.

Today all of them are world famous actors, directors and producers, but these stars would never have been lit if not for their ancestors, who came from Odessa. Most Hollywood actors are proud of their roots, but some choose not to mention their relatives ...

Leonardo DiCaprio never hid the fact that his grandmother, Helen Indenbirken, was known as Elena Stepanovna Smirnova in her girlhood. Most sources call her homeland Odessa, but some indicate the Kherson region of Ukraine. After the revolution, his grandmother and her family emigrated to Germany, where she remained during the Second World War. The mother of the future Hollywood star was born in a bomb shelter during an air raid. Leo inherited his surname from his father with Italian-German roots.

After the end of the war, Elena Stepanovna and her husband moved to the United States. When in 1974 she had a grandson, she became the closest person to him and was constantly with him. Leonardo DiCaprio always spoke of his grandmother with great love and respect and often appeared in front of the cameras with her. The actor admired her willpower and was sure that her character was tempered by the trials she experienced in her youth: “ For me, grandmother is the embodiment of inner strength and integrity. She went through poverty, war and emigration. Grandmother, grandfather and other relatives on their part are people with a difficult fate that did not break them". In an interview, DiCaprio has repeatedly stated that it was her upbringing that largely shaped him as a person. He greatly grieved when, in 2008, his beloved grandmother passed away at the age of 93.

Actor, director and producer Sidney Pollack, who won an Oscar for Out of Africa and a nomination for the comedy Tootsie, was also born into an émigré family - both his grandparents and his parents were Odessa Jews. But Sydney Pollack himself was born in Indiana and considered himself one hundred percent American. " For me, the long-standing emigration of parents from Odessa is exclusively from the field of family traditions.", - he said.

It is difficult to suspect Odessa roots from Whoopi Goldberg, but this is really so. Her maternal great-grandmother was also from Odessa, where she lived half of her life. After emigrating to the United States, she settled in New York. The actress always emphasized that she owes her character to her ancestors: “ All women in my family were strong personalities. They never called themselves feminists, did not utter loud words, but everything that happened within the family happened on their initiative. From them I have inherited the habit of treating all troubles with humor.».

Hollywood star Steven Spielberg, director of Schindler's List, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, does not like to talk about his ancestors and their homeland - due to the dramatic circumstances that forced them to emigrate. The director's maternal grandmother is from Odessa. She and her family left the country during the Holocaust. Although Spielberg does not like to remember these tragic events, he does not deny his roots and admits that borscht was the favorite dish in their family for many years.

The actor Sylvester Stallone is a Sicilian by his father, but his mother was of Franco-Jewish origin with Odessa roots. The family of his grandmother Rosa owned a jewelry store in Odessa. After the revolution, they emigrated first to France and then to the United States. In the mid-1980s. Stallone's mother, with the help of Mikhail Gorbachev, found her Odessa relatives and visited her homeland. The actor admitted: “ I suddenly felt that I had much more maternal genes than Italian paternal genes.».

There are many immigrant families in Hollywood. ...

Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the most famous and talented actors of our time. In his filmography there are melodramas, and serious films, and fantastic action films, and serials. The actor was born and raised in the United States, but has repeatedly emphasized that he is proud of his Russian roots.

What was the name of Leonardo DiCaprio's grandmother?

Russian blood in Leonardo came from the maternal side, namely from his grandmother. The name of Leonardo DiCaprio's grandmother is Elena Stepanovna Smirnova. It was under this name that she was born in pre-revolutionary Russia and lived here the first years of her life. By the way, exact information is not known where the Smirnov family was from. There is evidence that Leonardo DiCaprio's Russian grandmother was from Perm. Other sources call the city of Odessa or the Kherson region. However, Leo himself never specified the exact place of her birth, he usually says simply - "from Russia." And although both Odessa and Kherson now belong to Ukraine, his grandmother left the country during the revolution, when these areas were part of the Russian Empire.

After the revolution, Elena's parents immigrated to Germany, where the girl grew up. Here her name was changed in German, and she began to call herself Helen.

When Helen grew up, she married grandfather Leonardo DiCaprio and took her husband's surname - Indenbirken. In their family, a girl was born, who was named Imerlin.

The Russian grandmother and grandfather of Leonardo DiCaprio spent the entire Second World War in Nazi Germany. Leaving the country, let alone emigration, was impossible at that time. Helen herself said in an interview that her daughter Imerlin was born in 1943 in a bomb shelter during an air raid. The family miraculously was not subjected to repression by the fascist authorities, because it seems that Leonardo DiCaprio's grandfather also had Russian roots. The actor has stated this more than once, saying that he is "not a quarter, but half Russian."

Immigration to the United States and relationship with a grandson

After the end of the war in the early 50s, the family moved to the United States. Here the Indenbirkenes lived in a community among other German immigrants. According to some sources, Elena Smirnova arrived in America not with her husband, but with a new lover from Italy, but this information is refuted by an interview with Helen herself. She states that she lived with her husband, and in 1985 they decided to return to Germany.

In 1974, a grandson was born in Helen Indenbirken, who was given the name Leonardo. The grandmother took an active part in raising the child and was a very close person to him. Leonardo DiCaprio always speaks with love of his grandmother, as well as the fact that Russian blood flows in his veins. He especially emphasizes that his grandfather was also Russian, that is, he is Russian not by a quarter, but by a half.

About his grandmother Leonardo DiCaprio also says that he was the most powerful and internally whole person whom he had to meet in his life. Even in difficult times, she could maintain her dignity and inner core, the trials did not frighten her.

Despite the fact that Elena left Russia as a child, he retained the knowledge. Leonardo DiCaprio met with Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin in 2010, during his trip to St. Petersburg. Then, when asked if he spoke Russian, Leo replied that he did not, but his grandmother would gladly chat with the Prime Minister.